.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.

[Ajsomp]

An interesting day comparing different 77 grain through my 223 tikka

If you were to guess which of the below groups was black hills TMK and which was AAC TMK what would you say. Same shooter, range, conditions etc.

Also shot AAC 77 OTM , bone frog 77 TMK and some 62 grain copper today

 

[kingruin12]

I've gotten about halfway through the 560 pages of this thread and have been lurking for some time. I'm convinced enough to try it out and hang up the 6.5PRC for a bit. I was able to pick up 300 77gr tmk rounds at my local store for about $105 and will try to get to reloading those soon. The evidence on terminal performance is impressive, but the training aspect of using a .223 is what really convinced me.

New scope on the way (RS1.2, already have one), suppressor on the way (UM/US Reaper), just can't seem to find a stainless Tikka T3x .223 anywhere for sale that's not $900. My wife isn't overly sold on the whole idea and the money it's costing us lol. Eventually I'll have the RSS up and running.

Thanks for the interesting read and all the info you guys have put into this over the years.

Quoting myself because I can't figure out how to edit a post.

Sidenote: I can get a non stainless 20" tikka easy enough, but I've always tried to buy stainless. I've considered being impatient and just getting the standard one and maybe cerakoting it later. Does anyone have any input regarding waiting for a stainless vs just getting a standard?

 

[Ajsomp]

Quoting myself because I can't figure out how to edit a post.

Sidenote: I can get a non stainless 20" tikka easy enough, but I've always tried to buy stainless. I've considered being impatient and just getting the standard one and maybe cerakoting it later. Does anyone have any input regarding waiting for a stainless vs just getting a standard?

Get what you can afford. Call @Unknown Munitions see if they have any available

Swfa 3-9 or 6x also would work and save you some cash.

 

[SouthPaw]

Quoting myself because I can't figure out how to edit a post.

Sidenote: I can get a non stainless 20" tikka easy enough, but I've always tried to buy stainless. I've considered being impatient and just getting the standard one and maybe cerakoting it later. Does anyone have any input regarding waiting for a stainless vs just getting a standard?

Stainless is preferred but don't shy away from the standard. I got a standard steel CTR because it was the only left handed Tikka .223 in the US, and it's been fine through several thousand rounds and lots of field days in snow and rain. I did cerakote it, and wipe it down after wet days. My wife's Tikka .223 is also standard and it too has been fine.

 

[ChrisAU]

An interesting day comparing different 77 grain through my 223 tikka

If you were to guess which of the below groups was black hills TMK and which was AAC TMK what would you say. Same shooter, range, conditions etc.

Also shot AAC 77 OTM , bone frog 77 TMK and some 62 grain copper today
View attachment 924304

I’d say AAC up top, but guessing I’m wrong

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Quoting myself because I can't figure out how to edit a post.

Sidenote: I can get a non stainless 20" tikka easy enough, but I've always tried to buy stainless. I've considered being impatient and just getting the standard one and maybe cerakoting it later. Does anyone have any input regarding waiting for a stainless vs just getting a standard?

My second hand stainless steel Tikkas were $600 (1:10” twist .223 - not the more desirable 1:8” twist) and $650 (6.5 CM). That’s a couple of hundred bucks cheaper than sale prices. But then I had to spend $150 each to get them cut down and threaded. I recommend being just a bit patient with it if funds are tight.

The best time to purchase used firearms, in my experience, is December through March. A lot of guys basically rent a firearm for hunting season and then sell it to pay for Christmas presents. The worst time is July-September.

Edit - if you are on a phone, hold down on your post and select “more.” That will bring up the edit button.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Ajsomp]

I’d say AAC up top, but guessing I’m wrong

You’d be wrong. Which made me perplexed. The MV is about 100 FPS slower but grouped better

 

[ianpadron]

You’d be wrong. Which made me perplexed. The MV is about 100 FPS slower but grouped better

Good example of how every gun is different. Seems most rifles in this thread shoot Black Hills about .5" better at 100 but there's obviously an exception to every rule! You should be pumped that the cheaper option shoots that well

 

[Deere_Man]

I have a T3X Lite that is just a regular old blued barrel and it looks great to me. No reason to wait for stainless if budget is a concern.

 

[Ajsomp]

Good example of how every gun is different. Seems most rifles in this thread shoot Black Hills about .5" better at 100 but there's obviously an exception to every rule! You should be pumped that the cheaper option shoots that well

Yes, from a cost perspective. But that 100 FPS difference really bugs me.

Guess I’ll just keep shooting.

 

[BLJ]

Quoting myself because I can't figure out how to edit a post.

Sidenote: I can get a non stainless 20" tikka easy enough, but I've always tried to buy stainless. I've considered being impatient and just getting the standard one and maybe cerakoting it later. Does anyone have any input regarding waiting for a stainless vs just getting a standard?

I spray painted my non stainless black.

Does cerakote do anything for the inside of the barrel?

 

[nm.otter]

Does cerakote do anything for the inside of the barrel?

Cerakote is not (or at least should not be) applied to the inside of a barrel.

Insides of actions can be problematic as well, depending on the action tolerances, coating thickness, and the specific coating type.

 

[BLJ]

Cerakote is not (or at least should not be) applied to the inside of a barrel.

Insides of actions can be problematic as well, depending on the action tolerances, coating thickness, and the specific coating type.

Now that you mention the actions I remember reading of people having clearance issues.

 

[BLJ]

@kingruin12

I’d just paint it. Not sure if your hunting conditions but mines been fine.

Full disclosure I’ve never been concerned about a coupe freckles either.

 

[The Guide]

I spray painted my non stainless black.

Does cerakote do anything for the inside of the barrel?

No. It is not applied to the inside of the barrel.

Jay

 

[Gettincloser]

Have yall read this? "We" are getting published...

Is the .223 Remington Enough to Hunt Big Game? - Shooting Times

It may be a lot more capable than you think.

www.shootingtimes.com

 

[Taudisio]

Have yall read this? "We" are getting published...

Is the .223 Remington Enough to Hunt Big Game? - Shooting Times

It may be a lot more capable than you think.

www.shootingtimes.com

That is @Thegman
Local grizz killer to the forum

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

I've gotten about halfway through the 560 pages of this thread and have been lurking for some time. I'm convinced enough to try it out and hang up the 6.5PRC for a bit. I was able to pick up 300 77gr tmk rounds at my local store for about $105 and will try to get to reloading those soon. The evidence on terminal performance is impressive, but the training aspect of using a .223 is what really convinced me.

New scope on the way (RS1.2, already have one), suppressor on the way (UM/US Reaper), just can't seem to find a stainless Tikka T3x .223 anywhere for sale that's not $900. My wife isn't overly sold on the whole idea and the money it's costing us lol. Eventually I'll have the RSS up and running.

Thanks for the interesting read and all the info you guys have put into this over the years.

The US must be in a "low stock" phase right now. Bookmark the webpage linked below and check it once a week or so. When I was looking last year it was similarly slim pickings. A few weeks later that webpage had 40+ links and I picked one up for $760. They come in waves.

https://www.wikiarms.com/guns?q=082442859545&suggestion=082442859545

Tip: there will be vendors that don't list a price and that webpage will just say "MAP" for the price. Go to the vendor's webpage and they'll usually have a note saying, "add to cart for best price" or "enter email for best price". And it's usually discounted below MAP price. I just used a burner email and shopped around each one of those vendors until I found the lowest price. Defense Depot ended up being the lowest.

 

[DisplacedHusky]

A

I've gotten about halfway through the 560 pages of this thread and have been lurking for some time. I'm convinced enough to try it out and hang up the 6.5PRC for a bit. I was able to pick up 300 77gr tmk rounds at my local store for about $105 and will try to get to reloading those soon. The evidence on terminal performance is impressive, but the training aspect of using a .223 is what really convinced me.

New scope on the way (RS1.2, already have one), suppressor on the way (UM/US Reaper), just can't seem to find a stainless Tikka T3x .223 anywhere for sale that's not $900. My wife isn't overly sold on the whole idea and the money it's costing us lol. Eventually I'll have the RSS up and running.

Thanks for the interesting read and all the info you guys have put into this over the years.

If it helps, all T3Xs have the $75 mail in rebate going now.

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Seems like a good time to ask, has there been any noticable accuracy differences between the stainless barrels and blued barrels? With ARs I lean towards stainless for more accuracy but that's apples to tomatoes.